1074
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE
[No. 43

The activities of my Government in connection with the particular interests of women were given international recognition by the election of New Zealand to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. At the recent meeting of this Commission in Geneva this country was represented by the Hon. Mrs. Ross, Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children.

My Ministers feel that the advancement of the social and economic welfare of the Maori people are matters of the utmost consequence. Education, employment, and housing have all received special attention. Satisfactory progress has been maintained in the development and settlement of the Maori-owned lands. The establishment of special hostels by my Government and by Church and social organizations with assistance from the Government has proved of great value in providing suitable accommodation for young Maori men and women working and training in the cities.

The welfare of the Island Territories has continued to receive the attention of my Government. Early this year my Minister of Island Territories visited Western Samoa, where he had discussions with the High Commissioner and with Samoan leaders on the future of this Trust Territory.

As a result of my Minister’s visit, a Bill to establish an Executive Council in the Territory, and give the Samoan people themselves an increasing share in the government of the Territory, will be submitted for your consideration.

Under the legislative programme which will be submitted for your consideration, you will be asked to consider Bills dealing with the Armed Forces, education, town-planning, and soil conservation. There will be laid before you Bills to amend the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, the Licensing Act, the Justices of the Peace Act, the Infants Act, the Fencing Act, and the Evidence Act.

My Ministers will submit to you amendments of a machinery nature to the Agricultural Workers Act 1936, the Military Training Act 1949; the Workers’ Compensation Act 1922, and an amendment to the Gaming Act giving more adequate powers to deal with bookmakers.

A Bill will be introduced dealing with the vexed and important problem of local government reform and also a measure to consolidate and revise the law relating to local-body elections.

Consolidating legislation will include the Shipping and Seamen Act, the Deaths by Accidents Compensation Act, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, the Hospitals Act, the Marriage Act, and the War Pensions Act.

In accordance with the recommendation of the Patents Commission which sat in 1950, separate consolidations of the patents, designs, and trademarks legislation are in course of preparation. A separate Merchandise Marks Bill will, as recommended by the Commission, be submitted to you.

Another measure to be submitted for your consideration is a new Companies Bill, adapted from the United Kingdom Act.

Following the recent enactment in the United Kingdom of the Courts Martial Appeals Act, legislation will be promoted providing for a special Court of Appeal to hear and determine appeals by servicemen from the decisions of Courts Martial.

A Criminal Justice Bill, designed to protect society against hardened criminals and to further the work of reformation of younger offenders, will be presented to you. It is also proposed to introduce a Summary Jurisdiction Bill, to provide a substantial increase in the criminal jurisdiction of Magistrates.

I commend all these matters to your earnest consideration, and I pray Divine guidance in your deliberations.

By Authority: R. E. OWEN, Government Printer, Wellington.

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